Friday, December 30, 2016

I am sorry to have neglected you all these weeks and months
like that one grape which falls out of the bag and rots in the corner of the drawer.
I see you often, but sort of just grab what I need and go. So today I am
writing to apologize for abandoning you since I have discovered all these dirty
little secrets.

DLS #1 – Begin prolific is a bad thing. It was supposed to
be a good thing. I am learning it would have been better to put down the
brushes and scissors, and picked up more books. Reading only fills up the
brain, not the basement.

DLS #2 – Being prolific is dangerous to one’s health. You
see, all these created things have to be put into a cyber gallery space that
requires hours and hours of typing. Hours and hours of typing leads to carpel
tunnel pain. Pain keeps one away from typing so you poor blog site, get the
short end of the straw. I know you will always be there on the screen, waiting
patiently for me to return, but those cyber surfers are short on attention and
need constant feeding.

DLS #3 – I really should write down all the great thoughts I
have for blog ideas that happen to evolve during the night, but I’m just not
that dedicated. It would mean waking the cat who then starts to howl thinking
it is feeding time. Then the bladder kicks in because it hears the cat howling
and thinks great, gotta go…now. So I don’t write ideas down for you blog, I
just vow to remember them.

DLS #4 – I can’t remember much anymore. If I don’t write it
down, I forget. Of course I also forget where I put the paper I wrote it down
on. Let’s just blame this one on the cat again and move forward.

DLS #5 – People don’t really shop on line unless it is with a
big company. Maybe they can’t find us little people. Maybe they don’t realize that
I refuse (so far) to spend $ “boosting” posts. Maybe they don’t realize that I
have yet to figure out Instagram which supposedly is essential to selling. I
heard that about Pinterest. My wrist hurts just thinking about it. If thinking
starts to hurt, I won’t be able to read, so I guess I’d have to go make more
stuff. I think Catch 22 needs an upgrade….more like Catch 82….

DLS #6 – Okay, once one gets all their pictures taken,
edited and uploaded without annoying backgrounds and distracting bodies (per
trend), one comes to find out that now the pictures are supposed to be with
people wearing stuff and in an environment. Really? So now I have to find
people willing to pose and then do all that wrist action going through the
process of data input again? Can I sue myself for workman’s comp?

DLS #7 – We live in a mobile world dear blog. Well you don’t.
You just sit here in your blue W icon waiting for me to feed you words. But
people do. Those same people who are supposed to be ordering merchandise from their
mobile devices and wanting it shipped. I’m cool with that. I’ll ship you
whatever you want to buy, but will you be someplace stationary long enough to
get it? I can envision those drones chasing somebody down the street trying to
drop off their package…like a scene from a Woody Allen movie.

DLS #8 – Dear blog, I hate to hurt your feelings but nobody
reads you anymore. Not since I stopped talking about other people’s art.
Plastic Jesus remains a big hit, but nothing else really interests anybody. It’s
you and me Snarky. Maybe I should do fake review of shows that should have
existed but didn’t. If it works for the Ruskies it should work for me right?
This has potential……

DLS #9 – Bloggy, I did avoid you as well because of this
tumultuous year. You are supposed to be a place for opinions and comment, but
with all the vile rhetoric going around this year, I felt it best to lay low
and not wake the sleeping cat. Keep the
claws in the paws, keep the tail low and go, ride the fence and hope everybody
calms down…..

DLS #10 – I will put forth promises to you that I will write
more. Don’t believe me. Staying home again is rather nice. The world is full of
crazy drivers and distracted people so why should I venture out and write about
a show that nobody will ever read when I could be sitting on my patio or
walking the woods? Hell, I’m old enough to move to the Villages, shop on Senior
Citizen’s discount day at many local retailers, and give young hooligans a
stink eye without worrying about the resulting wrinkles. I even look forward to
watching Hogan’s Heroes every night just so I can sing the theme song (yes, it
has real words!)

DLS #11 - There are many more dirty little secrets about
this online shopping and selling biz that I wish I knew then but I do know now….
However, if kids can learn common core math, then I can figure out cyber
clouds. So Bloggy, while you wait for me to come back again, don’t feel like I have
abandoned you. There are so many cool and funny things to write about, but
between you and me lies an ornery cat.

That’s about it for now Snarky blog. Thanks for listening
(or recording I guess). See you soon (really, I’ll try harder). Love, me.

Monday, December 12, 2016

No, not literally. That phrase best captures where I am
right now (for the whole 5 of you wondering). With the closing of a brick and
mortar and a return to the home studio process, something happened. I think I
retired (for now anyway)…. from the career which defined “me”.

In October, I was presented with the Alumni Gallery of
Achievement (Hall of Fame if you will) Award from my high school. 5 of us were
inducted. On stage, giving a speech, doing a recorded message for the in school
TV station (sure a long way from the nerdy AV guy who hid in a dark room and
knew how to magically work the film machine), engraved image on the wall for
perpetuity, intro at the homecoming game…all those bells and whistles one would
expect for being honored to have been busy and very successful for 35 years in
a chosen profession. It was great….but it felt like an ending. Not a bad thing,
but like an “okay, you can put the brushes down now.”

Couple that with the timing of empty nesting 6 years after
the fact…..I was gone before the kids were….and it just feels weird. Now don’t
go thinking I am going to go back to serving on committees and boards and
special events and all that time absorbing activity…I am rather enjoying the
emptiness.

But nature abhors a vacuum so I hear and down time has never suited
me. Now I sew stuff, or rip it up and remake it, or cut things apart, try
something new and may ending tossing in the dumpster. It is like creating a
painting but without the cleanup. Some may think that rearranging garments is
not as “impressive” or “worthy” as creating something on canvas. Perhaps. But at least I don’t have canvases
stacking up along the walls waiting to be disposed of by my kids if nobody
wants them. Someday they can just drive a van to the local clothing donation
center and say hasta la vista baby with no guilt attached.

Textiles (fancy word for garments and clothes so I sound
more impressive) still require an understanding of line, shape, color, texture and
space….especially when one never uses a pattern or guide. The elements of
design still exist, only in a different form.
I am still working with my hands…more so now than ever before. My
brushes were always between me and the surface. Now I am in direct contact with
the media…I can feel each stitch and how the fibers are reacting. The colors,
especially in denim, have subtle variations that can affect the look of a piece
on the human body. Textiles have different weights to them just as watercolors
are different than acrylics. The only downside is the number of pins and
needles I lose on the floor, in the carpets, on the chair cushions……and the
times I stick myself with various sharp objects. Sewing is far bloodier than
painting!

Another reason I am circling is personal and
related to family. I need to be ready to “go” at any time should someone older
or younger than me need help. It is simple to turn off the machine and walk out
the door. No clean up. Sometimes life is a holding pattern and other times we
can land safely and disembark. My extended vacation downtown is over and I am
back on a plane to a new adventure. No idea how long the flight will be, where
it will take me or what lies ahead, but there are plenty of drinks and snacks
on board and I have a window seat! Will I paint again? Absolutely, I miss it
already and ideas are building up, but now is not the time. My supplies are in
the overhead bin and I can’t get to them just yet. You will know when I land….and
you can bet I’ll be well dressed. Until then, please check out the online
shopping site at HoardCouture.com and the associated FB page Hoard Couture
Original Denim. The Fine Art America merchandise and print site will be have new
(old works) added to the inventory as well over the next several weeks. Plus I have
to learn Pinterest, Snapchat and who knows what else…so knick knack patty wack
give this old dog a bone and let’s learn
some new tricks!

Saturday, December 3, 2016

Normally I would not post anything too religious or political
but I have to share this because it really touched me last night. I attended
the Walsh University Celebration of Lessons and Carols, a concert by the Walsh
University Chorale and Chamber Singers of which someone special to me is a
member of the chamber group. Two hours of music and verse, old standbys and
some bring down the house southern gospel. Impressive indeed.

One hymn however was unknown to me and the text was included
for the audience to sing along. It was introduced by the conductor, Britt
Cooper, as piece he selected on purpose to address the tensions that have faced
our country since the election last month. His explanation was longer than that
of course but no need to elaborate here. You will understand when you read the
words below. Sorry I cannot provide a musical reference as to the tune itself
so think of it as poetry and search your hymnals or the internet for further
details. Also, if you so desire, substitute “little child” for a deity or
symbol of your own faith but I believe the context and intent will remain the
same. Enjoy in the spirit of peace and
fellowship.

Wednesday, November 30, 2016

If middle aged women designed this machine it would do
something like this…..

The “dashboard” to which one must return constantly when
working on some programs would be renamed “Location of Main Topics” Then these
menus (were people hungry then they designed this world?) would be called my “things
I may need to do under each major topic….like a “to do” list, list” And before I forget, (we are middle aged
here, keep that in mind) but every 30 seconds, a “be sure to SAVE your progress”
box would flash right in the center of the screen and not go away until on
clicked on it. (I just saved this…)

The issue of moving the mouse once one has decided to click
on the “expand this category and show me the ‘to do’ list arrow, would not go
away if one tends to be a bit wavy on mouse control. Our eyesight isn’t what it
used to be and the distance from face to screen is too far for reading glasses
but not far enough for regular glasses. The screen floats someplace just out of
focus but clearly visible. Little mousy arrow/dot doesn’t run a steady course
but how many dang times do I have to go back and expand that “to do” list
because I veered off course a millimeter or so? (just saved this….)

If this machine were truly smart, it would know that if I have
done the SAME THING at least 5 times in row, I am probably going to want to do
it at least once more. If I wanted my progress go back 5 steps each time I push
save (hang on….needed to save again) then that is what I would be doing on my
own, but I’m not. Just keep going in the direction I have been for the last
couple of hours. I do not enjoy mousy time going back and forth pulling up (or
out or down) my “to do” list (save) then
tiptoeing through the tulips to get back to my same spot, over and over and
over…..

A really smart machine would notice if I do something I have
not done before, like push a button that does something I do not understand…because
my eyesight isn’t what it used to be and my finger slipped. This machine would
flash a sign (like the Save sign…hold on, gotta save) that would say “hold up
lady, are you sure you want to do that? You hit the C or F or whatever button
and this feels unfamiliar….why don’t I fix it for you and if you really wanted
to do that maneuver, you can hit it again and we will both know what you
intended. Oh, and DO NOT hit save if you have not responded to this message.) Because
if you do….in little text will scroll the words….”ah shit, now I have to text
my kid at work or his girlfriend at school and ask for help “

I think that options should be offered for that hand symbol
with the raised index finger. Sometimes a raised middle finger seems more
appropriate.

A great feature would be the ? button. If one were to push
the ? symbol about 6 times in a row (because we are irritated), a box would pop
up that asks you what’s wrong? You type in your problem and the machine fixes
it. It doesn’t TELL you how to do it, it just corrects the issue. Issues like
stuff suddenly disappearing. A finger slip again and lots of work all gets
sucked up into cyber purgatory. (save). If that happens, why can’t a little guy carrying
sign appear on the bottom of your screen, a sign that says, “it’s okay,
everything is right here, all saved, just click in my sign when you need it
back, no need to have a panic attack {he’s a little poet too}.

Labels should make sense. Header and Footer? I know, they
are grammar terms for page layout, but why is it so hard to say top and bottom?
Maybe I want a Lefter and a Righter…why are those not options?

Could we get these machines with two options of operation…and
don’t ask me about “operating systems”. Half the time I can’t get the system I
think is logical to operate in a method that is systematic. There should be an “efficiency”
option and a “conversational” option. Those who like checking boxes and drop
down lists would be happy and those of us who feel this machine works FOR me would
be happy. Conversational option would pop up questions which we can answer such
as “what color would you like the background?” I could type in “light blue
would be nice, not too robin’s egg though” and it gives me one. It should give
us feedback or affirmations such as “nice choice” to which I can respond “thank
you”. I wonder if I need to get back out
with real people more often? (save).

The Word document I am on now has a little paintbrush up by
the scissors, paper and paste images. I think it needs a rock symbol. Come on,
rock, paper, scissors would be funny. I understand the use of the scissors to
cut, the papers to copy but the paintbrush is a big disappointment. It doesn’t
paint anything. It is format related. I want a rock. You click on the rock when
really ticked off and want to throw one through the screen. A box would pop up –
in conversational option of course – that would first apologize for pissing me
off, then ask what it can do to help me. (save) I really want those paper and
scissors buttons to move. That would be fun, to have the scissors open and close,
the papers shuffle around….how hard would that be?

There are also too many ways to do the same thing. Want to “find”
some text, push this button or that one or type in the words or do a hundred
other choices. Why not just proofread the document? Remember how we had to
actually re-read our papers before turning them in? We made the choices for
words and usage and had to check our spelling. We learned from that. This thing
tells me that half of what I write is wrong. Good thing James Joyce didn’t write
on a computer.

How about little bike flags that appear on documents which
get hidden by others as “pages” pile up on the screen, the proverbial messy
desk of yore. When a page gets covered by another on the screen, I’d like one
of those orange flags on a long stick to sprout out from the top of the page so
I know its back there. Of course in middle age world, the flag would be like a
post-it note with a word or two on it so I would know which page it is without
having to click on it. (save)

I could rant about the “blackboard” which really isn’t or
any number of other techno technicalities but I will “save” that for another time.
Right now I need to go use my hands and make something, which alas, I will have
to photo and upload and all that jazz on this machine. Sometimes it takes
longer to do the mechanical part than it does to do the manual part. Thank you
for allowing me to vent. (And thank you for all of the Birthday wishes, one big
positive aspect of cyberworld is the instant communication between friends and
family near and far).

Sunday, November 13, 2016

Would you ask the 911 or suicide prevention hotline person
who they voted for, and if not the same as you, would you hang up?

When the AAA guy comes at 6am on a cold snowy winter morning
to jump start your car so you can make it to work on time, would it matter who
he voted for?

If the hospice nurse holding a loved one’s hand during their
final hours on this earth not be of the same party as you, would you tell her
to let go?

If the fireman searching for your lost dog in your burning
house didn’t agree with your point of view, would you tell him to forget it?

If the guy working the parking deck exit thingy didn’t vote
your way, would you be willing to sit in that deck for a long time?

Would you turn down the couple who is spending money on your
creation because the sign in their yard didn’t match yours?

If the surgeon about to care for your cancer tumor didn’t
vote your way, would you get up from the table?

The leaves will still fall, the earth will still spin, and
gravity is still working fine……

Did you offer someone a smile today? Did you say “thank you”
to a stranger, did you appreciate the sunshine on your face or appreciate the
warm coat you were wearing? Did you thank the deity of your choice that you
woke up to live another day?

We are all guilty of something, we are all better than
someone else, and worse than many. We are human, we are alive, we are able to
love and be loved. We are able to do good deeds for others and make a positive difference
in their lives, one simple gesture at a time. We cannot be responsible for how
others think or feel, it is not our job. Our job is to be a good person so we
can be good to others, one person at a time.
Hold open a door, smile at an elderly person, say thank you to anyone
that deserves it and judge only yourself as to whether you did the right
thing today or any other day.

When your life is in someone else’s hands, and someday it
will be, who they voted for, will not make a difference at that moment in time.
Nor should it ever when the moment has passed. Love thy neighbor….I’ve heard
that someplace before….sounds like a plan worth putting into action.

Saturday, November 12, 2016

The North Canton Little Art Gallery is currently showing the
work of these two artists until Dec 4th. Intrigued by their pieces in the Stark County
Artists Show at the MassMu (see previous blog), I decided to get a larger
offering of their work in a different context.
The Canton Rep wrote a full article (meaning multiple paragraphs in this
sound bite age of ours) about this current show as well just a few days ago.

The printed program and list of works available at the NCLAG
has several pages about the artists, their process, their relationship and this
show as well as many visual examples. Bill likes to write so I was not
surprised and it did allow for a deeper connection to the show by knowing all
this detail. I would encourage you to read it over once before and once again after
viewing the show. I did so and it made me go back and look at some of their pieces
again with a different perspective and appreciation.

I do know that putting this show together was more intensive
than most. Curator Elizabeth Blakemore worked her magic on the Bogdans to get
the right feel for this show. Bill is making a name for himself with his
woodcuts (The Chess Player) but there are none here. Instead, we have digitally
enhanced oil pastels of a realistic nature, drawings in the true sense of an
artist capturing a moment with a tool in his hand, not under it, like a mouse.
Karen’s pieces are fabric (and mixed media in some cases) for the most part,
textiles, not quilts. For the sake of space and not repeating what has already
been written or what is available at the show, I am just going to offer some
observations as my notes come together.

The way the show is laid out, with his more “gentle” works
placed in-between her more “passionate” creations, gave me a clue to their
connection as a couple. I use those two words in quotes because this
presentation made me feel he is “there” in that space to say “I’ll keep you
calm, I’ll keep you grounded”. Their 50
years together is documented in the big showcase and the best way to start the
gallery walk.

Ladies first so let’s explore Karen’s works. She was an
elementary art teacher which means she must know many ways to make things and many
historical art figures that kids can relate to such as Henri Rousseau. Her
piece “Save the Forest” captures his spirit.
“The City”, a wood sculpture, appears to be channeling Red Grooms. “City
Flowers”, a black and white pieces, is reminiscent of the boogie woogie jazz
age of NYC. Perhaps I am leading you to
think she has no focus, but quite the opposite is true. She has an keen
interest in textures, techniques and experiences….a voice saying “hey, lets try
this now” much like an elementary teacher can’t stay in one place too long. I
can relate. It gets a bit crazy up in the old brain with too many ideas and not
enough room to hold them.

Continuing on, “Inception 1” is a big bang piece of layered
fabrics, some transparent, some translucent, to give a feel of gasses in the
big abyss of the universe. The work is stretched over deep sided canvas (or so
it appears) which is a welcome change to the traditional flat on the wall display
method associated with textile arts. In contrast to the delicate nature of “Winter
Scene”, I have to talk about “The Carousel” because you can’t escape it. I would
imagine that there are quite a few who would wonder “why is that here?”…well
let me tell you why I think it is. Created in 1995, the oldest piece in the show
by decades, it is an anchor piece. We all have them, the ones that marked a
milestone or a change or that we just darn well like and want to share. “The Carousel”
is big and bold and brash and loud…..but so is a carousel in real life. They
spin, and shine and have loud music and go up and down….this multimedia fiber piece
captures that essence, that craziness that makes a merry go round the favorite
of many a child.

Okay, a few words about the gentleman now. As I said, his pieces
are surprisingly quiet in nature from what we have come to expect. All recent
(2012 – 2016) these 14 framed works are digitally enhanced prints of his own
drawings originally in oil pastels. The style is reminiscent of early Van Gogh
with the layering of markings, the linear quality and the figures going about
daily tasks, most notably in the Gervasi pairing. All the subject matter and scenes are local. One however, “Goodrich Smokestacks”, at first
felt like I was viewing the World Trade Center Twin Towers by the way he has
visually framed the imagery. So too does “Red Ball over Market Street (Akron)” have
a minimalist graphic quality, especially if one does not know the reference. Both
are strong pieces which work well together.

I would hope that the traffic is good through the gallery to
see this show as it has universal appeal and offers much to take in. The only
thing missing is a current photo of the couple. It would have been fun to have
them pose in the same manner as the photo from long ago and include it in the
showcase. Thanks to Karen and Bill Bogdan for sharing their story and their work
with all of us.

Tuesday, November 8, 2016

Note* I was going to include more pictures but Artwach beat me to it as we chose many of the same.

Finally got a chance to stop by and see this year’s show.
When I walked in, I wrote “wow, color!!”
It is a more colorful presentation than in past years, but rather slim
in content and at times felt a bit dated. Full disclosure, I did enter the
usual three, but only halfheartedly because I felt it was my duty as a Stark Co
artist to do so. With my retirement from
the canvas now in full swing, or at least dormant for the foreseeable future, I
just didn’t feel the urge to be a part of the show. It was a joy however to
walk the gallery alone and take in the works of some of the best talents in the
area.

The judges and I would still be in a fistfight if I had been
one of them. I don’t know them, I suppose I could google them, but why. Knowing
their preferences or styles would not have changed my opinions, maybe just help
answer “what were you thinking???”

My husband is fond of saying “if you can’t make it good,
make it bigger” which applies to a few of the pieces, ones that reminded me of
foundation level still life set up paintings, basic assignment type of projects.
The 3-D category was positively anemic, where are all our craft media artists? A few works were practically carbon copies of
each other in style and technique by different artists and a couple may be
oldies but goodies! However, all that
being said, there were some absolute gems to explore so let’s move on with what
I discovered.

Spencer Molnar, “Devil in a Blue-Green Dress” (Honorable
mention) was the best of the three he has included, hung side by side as well.
Enter 3 of the same, hope they take one, good odds. In this case all three got
in and yes, they are well done but I would rather see them side by side in a
larger solo show, not next to each other, because here the star was tarnished
just a bit by her neighbors.

I was fooled by Lee Novotny’s “The Watcher”. From a distance
it looked like a photograph with the framing an integral part of the work
itself. Much of this show I enjoyed from
a distance which attests to the skill of the artists to deal with depth so
successfully. Contrast and scale are essential elements to pull this off. Diane
Belfiglio’s “Going Deeper ll” is a prime example. With no contextual
references, one can see this underwater subject matter as perhaps celestial or
abstracted imagery that grows more powerful the farther you step back. Up
close, the blue form appears to be a felted material collaged on, not a
drawing, a testament to her skill with oil pastels.

Emily Bartolone’s “Space and Motion”, a work of roll paper,
pen and ink, though non-representational, was to me a like looking at a map
that had gotten wet, been forgotten, had coffee set on it, and maybe even put
into a bottle at some point. I spent quite some time imagining different
coastlines and trying to make a reference to a location even though I knew no
real one was to be found.

Karen Bogdan’s “Deep in the Forest”, a fiber arts piece, I
felt was the better of her two included here. I loved the complex layering of
the leaves, capturing sunlight and shadow by the textiles and their placement.
The addition of stitching and her use of scale made this one of my favorites,
but also because it felt more like a painting than a textile with the framing a
big part of that.

Bill Bogdan’s woodcut, “The Chess Player”, should have won
something. Perhaps it was too complex in meaning. This larger work is
multilayered, not media wise, but mentally. The use of positive and negative
space, the “live” man in the light and dressed, the “inactive” man, empty,
barefoot and slumped over….dead? Only one piece is missing from the board, a
pawn, on the side of the inactive player. The timer is numbered on the light
side, empty on the dark…has time run out? The title is singular, not plural. Is
this a contemplation of his own mortality? Is the game over or just beginning?
So much to see and contemplate and I am sure most visitors will walk right
past. Too bad, they will miss something important that art is intended to do,
capture our attention and make us think.

“We Will Call Him Snappy” by Nate Forshee has a great title
for his off centered portrait of a turtle. This offset placement is a
compositional moment of genius, notice how concentric circles and the
repetition of circles are formed by the shapes of the animal itself, like
raindrops in a pond. Turtles live in ponds.

The mixed media works of Kelly Rae were stunning. I hope to
see more of her work and perhaps a solo show.
The atmospheric landscapes are conducive to contemplation and I am glad
she gave no reference to a specific location because the viewer can now let
their own imagination take them to this “place” with whatever emotion is needed
at the time.

Brian Robinson’s talents with soft pastel are beyond words.
He needs a big solo show someplace so I can see more. The scale alone is
intimidating for “Resting Soil”. One can feel the warmth of the earth in the
spot on the field illuminated by a sun we cannot see. Again, the “from a distance” factor is in
full play here, both his pieces are even better when standing back, if that is
even possible.

A few final mentions, Tom Wachunas (good thing you didn’t
touch that flag, my DAR would kick in); Nanette Ream (you have a future in
textile design, the “Fish” was fantastic); Michael Weiss (finally some clever
fun in this show, thank you!)

Congrats to all the artists whose work hangs on the walls,
putting your soul on display is never easy.

Thursday, September 1, 2016

Only through Sept 12th, in the side gallery of
Cyrus Framing on Cleveland Ave, one will find a wonderful exhibition by the
staff of the Massillon Museum. It is an extension of the show at the main museum
expanding upon the concept of artists responding to the works of others, in
particular, from the permanent collection of the MassMu. A mounted statement on the wall and a list of
the 15 participants and their positions with the museum provides details that I
don’t need to list here. You have to go “there” to appreciate the works anyway as
my words are only a hint of what awaits.

It has been way to long since I have had the time to blog
about our arts but that is changing. Despite the carpal tunnel, the almost
broken ribs (did you know dumpsters have steel projections on the sides?) and
the mysterious wings of a guardian angel that prevented me from being run over
by a car (God is suggesting you buy my work now for future investment because the
next time I might not be so lucky), I’m still up and moving (and moving) to
find hidden gems for your viewing experience.

Cyrus is open from 10-ish (gotta love honesty) to 6, M –F and
Sat 11 – 3. For the sake of equality and
efficiency, we will start inside the door to the right and move counter
clockwise around the room with the work of Scot Phillips. Based upon a 1914
photograph of a round house collapse (a round house is where train engines
would be turned around, it is not a yurt), his 5 small micro dot screen prints
are on found wood pieces. Superimposed doodles, some with dates, act as graffiti
such as that found on train cars today, but in different context of style. I
enjoy watching how he uses this signature technique in so many different ways
over the years.

Next one will encounter two photographs by intern Jamie
Woodburn, inspired by the work of American landscape artist Albert Blakelock. The two pieces are meant to be considered
together, one as a larger metaphor for the path we all travel, and another for
those small shelters we seek out when the journey gets hard and respite is
needed. Look for the little critter
captured on film while on his own slow travels.

Alex Coon shares an audio recording and in assorted jars,
collections of things that spark memories of places visited. She has the gift
of restraint… a rock or two, a shell, a piece of driftwood, a trait that will
serve her well as those munchkins grow and start gathering things of their own.
The simplicity of the presentation has a charm reminiscent of earlier times
when all one needed was a rock, not a hundred selfies to recall the blessings
of family.

Heather Bullach is such a natural talent and well known in
the local arts scene so I will only point out my favorite gem this time…how she
captured the connection between a young Nell Dorr and herself as women finding their paths and discovering who
they are. It is a brilliant resolution
to the concept.

BZTAT has a painting in the show that is dazzling in its simplicity
but complex in its rendering of a balloon man at the circus. The perspective is
from the bleachers in the eyes of child and the balloons are not round but
elongated, which adds just a bit of whimsy to the image. The compositional
bones and use of color placement is as sophisticated as any master work, as
making the “simple” work, is often harder than filling space with complex
forms. The personal memory shared in her statement will make the connection
even more endearing.

Mandy Altimus Pond made me laugh. Stan Baltry is her inspirational
superhero, pharmacist by day, photographer by night! Before all the glitz and
glamour and green-screens of today’s action figures, men were just as grand and
gallant. The depiction of her own super hero (Brian) by way of her signature
photographic techniques and historical presentation are charming as they are
personal.

Meghan Reed presents us with three brick shaped canvases
painted with small brick patterns. They reminded me of those cardboard bricks with
brick patterns that my children played with years ago. There is an innocent
spirit and message in these three forms….starting small, one piece at a time,
we can create great things, as whole cities are built by one brick at a time.

The gem in Emily Vigils work, again a well-known and very
talented area artist so I won’t dwell, can be found in her large diptych oil
painting. My eye was drawn to the red shoes of the little girl entering into
the woods. In this sea of greens and woodland browns, little red riding hood
has ditched the cape and gone all “big girl” on us and opted for red shoes. They
sparkle like Dorothy’s in this work and leave you wondering about her journey
into the future that no one can predict.

Rats, I am hitting my word limit so here is a cheat sheet synopsis:

Michelle Waalkes – the photo transfer of grid over a pathway
with unreachable light, creating multiple layers of crosses based upon the old
Mass State Hospital for mental patients…..spot on, loved it.

April Olsen – a woodcut of Christ, but oriented on an angle,
not the usual vertical, makes the presentation a layer deeper.

Chris Craft – enjoyed how his rendering of the connection
between beauty and torture for the sake of others contrasts with the same concept
by Heather Bullach. He used mixed media drawing, while she is drawing on her
own face. His inspiration is a photo of the permanent wave machine from 1928.

Margy Vogt – smaller digital photography vignettes that
capture a rusted train bridge as if an old engine itself and been repurposed as
the bridge upon which it once traveled. “Rust Belt” on bands of rust like stacked
belts…nailed it.

Demi Edwards, Diane Gibson, Samantha Lechner are also
represented in this show but I am at my 1000 word limit so time to cut this
off. Please try and stop in this week or
next and view these works by the MassMu family.
Not one red dot when I was there, we need to change that!! Some
purchases will benefit the museum fund as designated on their tags. Don’t
chide, I plan to put my money where my words are and dot one or two tags unless
someone beats me to it.

Sunday, August 28, 2016

…whose show got cancelled. No, I am not talking about the
studio/gallery status, which will be addressed in another post down the road.
Right now, I am preparing to bring downtown about 30 of my more “controversial”
and “misunderstood” paintings from the now retired (?) Women Series, the one
for which I am best known as an artist. The first official painting of the series was done in 1999 when my sons were 6 and
9, and the last (?) was in 2014 (ironically of a grandma in a graduation cap). My boys are are now 23 and 26.

Somewhere at last count, I think I completed about 150 or so
paintings, with a few in storage that may or may not ever get done. My dream
for the series was to have it shown in retrospective form, somewhat in
chronological order, as the intent of the series was to depict the social,
cultural, moral, emotional and physical changes of a woman’s pathway through
life. As she ages, as she has kids, interacts with people and circumstances,
and so forth. Using visual imagery, color and humor to soften the blow of my
statement, some pieces hit the mark and others were just too obscure for the
average viewer.

Over the years, I wrote numerous versions of my “artist
statement” to try and explain the concept. Some venues got it and hosted a solo
show, filling a couple dozen guest books with mostly positive comments. Others
could not get past the “comic” nature and felt it was not serious enough for
“real” art. But back to my point…..I
wish I could see them all in one big show, the huge party scene of color and
expressions that happens when they are all together, even in small groupings.

“I love your work!” Yep, hear that all the time….I do too,
that is why I did it. “But not in my house…” Yep, hear that too. My house must
be very weird compared to most. “They are so expensive!” Yep, in this part of the woods that would be
true. In major markets, they are cheaper than dirt, which also devalues the
product. How to price at market value when the local market does not see, or
can support, the value? Catch-22, but somebody already wrote that.

So it is with a bit of sadness that I am letting these more
“difficult” children of mine go out on the floor in time for First Friday in
hopes that someone will want to adopt one that may be problematic in their living room. And if they can’t find homes, I am happy to bring them back and
add to the growing boat load awaiting my Viking funeral. I wonder if one can get their paintbrushes
spade so they stop producing so much?!

I won’t let go of the dream to see them flooding the walls
of a venue big enough to house the whole lot, frameless however. Thin little
sides with exposed staples cannot compete with the deep sided finished
edges I can afford now. Back in the earlier days, the cheaper the better, hence
a few warped ones in the lot (like me in many ways). 50 or so have long since
been adopted and I have no idea who owns most of them. Sold at shows and I just
cashed the checks. Some favorites will never be allowed to leave while the boat
is still in dry dock.

Will I ever go back to the series for a second wave? Maybe.
There are so many “subjects” waiting to be brought to canvas, but there has to
be a purpose when one is my age, to add to something that may not ever go away. I
am considering a book. Maybe pick my 100 favorites and add updated commentary
to them. A book would not be the same impact as a real life sized in your face
presentation but I am not aggressive enough to go after that. I like to plant
seeds and hope that something sprouts in somebody else’s garden.

So with all that said, stop by First Friday for a final
farewell to Snarky Art …the studio as a destination in the downtown area. My
space is FULL of “stuff” from the sidewalk sale including tablets, drawing
boards, tempera paint, cigar boxes, glass bottles, sheets of glass, ceramic
tile samples, cans of paint for pollocks, frames, props, leftover community art
project supplies, the projects themselves, and just lots of junque that needs
to go. Cabinets, work table, some shelving…looks like a tornado went through so
I apologize in advance for the mess!!!!
And it is a BIG mess, which for an avid merchandizer like me, is a very stressful state of being.

Hoard Couture is not discounted as that is almost done being
an official trademark with the US Government! Step one of going to the Cloud is
to protect the “brand”. Most paintings
of mine in the signature series and the botanicals are not discounted either but
fashion paintings, photography, and misc works are reduced. My last day is Sept
23. So much love and laughter has been shared in that space, so that post is
for another day. As always, thanks for playing and see you soon!

Tuesday, August 16, 2016

Creative minds are notoriously “messy” and so are our spaces
but I guarantee you if 5mm google eyes were needed for a school project, I got
‘em and I know where they are! That being admitted to, every now and then one
must “purge” which has been occupying much of my time, hence this late update.

Usually I get my First Friday wrap up done in a timely
manner….but ya know, it is summer time and the liv’n is easy. Either that, or I
had to spend time picking up the bottles and cups scattered along the outside
of the building (out of dora bounds in many cases….would it kill the city
budget to put trash cans at the boundary points?) Said cans would make good
visual markers that the end is near and could perhaps include a potty?
Seriously, whoever you are, did you have to relieve yourself on my back door?
At least a buddy of yours used his Bud cup (not a sanctioned dora mind you….)

No Community Project to write about, too much H of F
craziness or so I would have thought. Our attendance was rather low for all the
hoopla going on but perhaps with Jeff K not playing and Su N out on the road,
the opening act had no headliners to back up the show. But whatever the
reasons, our Question of the Month did get 24 responses…..I guess it was too
hard this time.

“If Canton were to have its own NFL franchise, what would be
a good team name?”

Wednesday, July 6, 2016

We took it to the streets this past July FF 2016 in hopes of
reviving our most requested Community Participation Project (CPP) to date,
“Rock’n the Pollock” action painting.
The four large pieces that were completed will be seen again, as some
type of clothing ala Hoard Couture. Last
year we made about 30 pieces of art for purchase from the canvases created and
many of them are sitting in storage so we won’t be doing that again. The
displayable works of art we created from past projects dating back to the 2014
Stick Figure Challenge will be included in our sidewalk sale in late August. Be
sure to stop and shop for your office, lobby, or meeting rooms.

We will not be offering a Community Participation Project
this next FF, Hall of Fame weekend, as there is just so much going on. The
focus of FF’s has changed so it is time to take a break and consider how to
best use our time, energy and resources to promote our business. Our Question
of the Month will remain for now.

Did you happen to stop in and see our new dressing room? It
is a scale replica of the TARDIS from the Dr. Who BBC televisions series, built
by special request of the Doctor himself. And yes, it really is bigger on the
inside! Below are this month’s responses and if you are interested in past
answers, we do have laminated copies of all the past questions hanging on the big
board for your reading pleasure.

I love this list, so many fond memories of doing many of
these things as well. But sorry to note that my own kids did not…..our
generation and the current one seem to have overscheduled our children with
classes, camps and programs and been too afraid of the boogey man after dark to
allow them to roam free and make their own fun. If your kids are young, look
over this list and if you need to know how to play ghost in the graveyard or
find fun in a creek for hours on end, we will be happy to explain it to you!

Sunday, June 5, 2016

That was the Question of the Month at Snarky Art/Journey
Studios this past First Friday. Answers
to follow soon. This past Friday also debuted the “DORA” which is the new law
that allows people to open carry their alcohol in a designated area. Growing
pains will be inevitable and as a business within the footprint, we will have
to make some adjustments. As the law is written, no one can come into our place
with the cups full of beer but how we can enforce that is going to be
interesting. One would think that common sense would prevail and carrying food
or beverages into a clothing store would be a no-brainer, but alas…..need I
state the obvious?

As the famous movie line goes “What we have here is a
failure to communicate.” We are still trying to find our way to effectively
communicate to the public that we are not an entertainment venue per say. Yes,
on First Fridays we provide an activity so as to draw people down to our end of
the block but we aren’t a bar, a restaurant, a public restroom or a lounge to listen
to music. We are a retail store that features art and wearables, the majority of
which are made by two people. As time
passes and this new rule of open carry becomes the norm, it will be interesting
to watch how our fellow retailers handle the issues. I suspect that we won’t
have too many problems in Nov – Feb, after all, this is Ohio.

Our Community Participation Project this month was Frisbee
Flowers which really had nothing to do with flowers but I had a bunch of mini
Frisbees donated to the cause so they came in handy. Over 160 people (final
count may be closer to 170) made a paint filled platter by blowing thru a
straw. Even with such a simple method, I get the nay-sayers who won’t play
because they have “no talent.” Channel
that middle school moment when you shot the straw wrapper across the lunchroom
and it will be just fine. Some people are just too cool for school however and
find it embarrassing or annoying to be asked to participate and have a bit of
fun. It’s okay, we remember who you are…and I’ll get you yet my little
pretties!! It is only a matter of time. Next month, weather permitting, we plan
to Rock the Pollock on the blocked off Fourth Street outside. What could be
more entertaining than drunk people flinging paint? I suggest coming early, we
will be doing this one person at a time so a line will be formed, and we will
shut it down promptly at 9 or maybe earlier depending upon the circumstances. I
am requesting donations of acrylic house paints that you no longer need. Any
amount, any color as long as it is acrylic latex (no stains, no oils). Drop off
cans at the studio during regular hours only or message me to make an
arrangement for delivery. I am not putting the hours here to force you to go to
the website, and like us on FB too!

Okay, back to the “What do you collect?” answers…. Total of
73 (some people are also reluctant to write on a chalkboard or pretend to not
have seen it….a 16 square foot board right inside my door…. Which is why I have
160+ Frisbees but fewer answers.)

Once again, thanks for playing. I appreciate those who have
stuck by the blog, or lack thereof, over the past months to almost a year. I
hope to get more entries now that both sons are 1) gainfully employed 2) living
independently 3) have health care and
retirement plans and 4) the best projects I ever made.

Tuesday, May 10, 2016

The Junior Varsity Team worked the Snarky Art and Journey
First Friday this past week. Thanks to Andy, Matt, Travis and team captains Meg
and Rich. The place is still standing
but we need to start moving merchandise so the whole she-bang doesn’t have to
move. We love to be here for you but you need to be here for us a well…..

Our project was an Open Studio for anyone to use the
available supplies and create works of art for our clothes pin show. The Team says
more than half wanted to take home their projects (who is going to argue with a
kid?) but only 3 pins were left unused so the results were great.

Our Question of the Month (in honor of Mother’s Day) was “If
your Mom or Grandma worked outside the home, what was her job?” 53 answers are
on the board and here they are…….

Next month will be our Frisbee Flowers project and our
question is “What do you collect?” This is the season of birthdays, weddings,
showers, anniversaries, graduations and Father’s day so if you need a unique
gift, we have one (or many). With the cicada invasion on its way, we provide a
safe haven from the swarm too. Look for our display at Vintage Canton and our
one of kind creations in the Hall of Fame Fashion Show!

Thursday, May 5, 2016

With mixed emotions I took a tour of this year’s NCLAG May
Show, one of the two “local” competitions that seem to validate the status of
artists in Stark County. Without all productive and talented artists in our area
participating in these shows however, it is unfair to really assess the value
of these exhibitions in that regard. As a showcase opportunity however, this year’s
offerings are a wonderful array of nature inspired imagery. One could almost
label this a theme show.

Beautifully hung by curator Elizabeth Blakemore, each piece
is in harmony with the ones that surround it and nothing overwhelms any particular
wall. There are focal points due to contrast and scale, but nothing shouts out
over its neighbors….well, except for Russ Hench’s big ummm….rooster painting
that screams across the whole library. By far my favorite in the whole show, it
did receive an Honorable Mention in the acrylic category. Loud and large and just
so much fun to look at, his impressionistic approach using flat brush strokes and
the slightly off kilter angle of the fence, truly does bring to life this tipsy
rooster walking down a Key West sidewalk.

There are 52 entries in the gallery with 21 of them NFS, which
I find an extraordinarily high number. I wonder why? Full disclosure, yes I did
enter, no I did not get in as the entry stood. It was a two part entry as one
unit. The judges wanted one, not both so it’s a no. Stop by Journey to visit my
rejects…a nice perk to having one’s own gallery space. The jurors were a
husband and wife team from Ohio’s Polytechnic University (the in-transition U
of Akron, my undergrad ala mater) who obviously spent a great deal of time
going over each piece and pulling together a very cohesive distribution of
works that focus on craftsmanship, technical skill and strong fundamentals.
Personally I found it a bit light on message or statement pieces, but there is
a good bit of humor mixed in so I’m okay with it.

Michelle Mulligan’s “Art Her-Story” is outstanding. Earning
Second Place for 3-D entries, this found object and gourds creation is worth
the need to get down on your knees and look at the detail and personalities of the
faces. If you know art history, you will recognize the ladies depicted. Heather Bullach, a truly gifted painter has 2
pieces, neither of which earned and award, but I would have given her one. Her
oil on board “The Rising Sun” captures a moment in time through the use of only
one, yes one, brushstroke. A single hint of yellow on the side of building in
this small landscape is amazing. Her career is just beginning.

Gail Wetherell-Sack’s “Poppin’ Red” is also a fun piece in
that her title is layered with meanings as one works through this mixed media
Honorable Mention work. Handmade papers,
cut outs, pop-outs, bright colors, lime green frame, patterns, textures etc…I
was a kid in a candy store. Her use of the green frame brings up the issue of
framing….(eating some crow right now…..) but this year, the frames became part
of the works more so than ever before. The idea is growing on me. Without some
of the creative framing such as Lee Ann Novotny’s “A Superior View from
Paradise”, a delicate colored pencil landscape, the piece may have been
overshadowed. Instead, the framing almost functions as a window enhancing the
concept of her work. But as framing may givith, it also can taketh away….gold
metal frames are as out of date as saddle shoes, time to leave them at home and
paint the edges of a deep canvas. Deep canvases being a way to validate that pieces
are new.

My carpal tunnel is kicking in so time for this post to
close. But I do want to mention the First Place winner in mixed media by Daniel
Vaughn entitled “Which Way?”, a 12 x 12 black square that houses and intricate Lego
pattern. At first one thinks, yeah, I’ve got bins of those puppies in my
basement, but the concept grows on you. I would love to see a whole wall of
these squares, like quilt patterns, or a whole room full in patterns and
designs that treat the little bricks as strokes of color when laid on their sides.
Hmmm…..I feel a dress coming on.

On view through May 31st, make the time to visit
this year’s show. Congrats to all!

Monday, April 18, 2016

Once again, Studio M at the Mass Mu is exhibiting the works
of students enrolled in Photojournalism at Walsh University. 18 images are on
view and well worth the time to stop by. Professor Lee Horrisberger has taught
her class well. In a world were almost everything
is “caught on tape”, selfies saturate our servers, and images can be captured
instantly on a cell phone, the role of photography as an informational art form
is becoming somewhat of a dinosaur. Considering the long and rich history of
photographs as our source for emotional connection to situations where words
cannot say enough, it is refreshing to see students challenged to keep this
tradition alive.

A large statement is posted just inside the door so I will
skip the details of the specific assignment. Students were allowed to use “cameras,
computers and photographic equipment from Walsh’s Communication Department to
imitate the style, lighting and content of a photojournalist of their choosing.”
Next to almost every image in the show is an explanation by the student as to
why their journalist was selected and how a specific work by this person
influenced the image you see. I would recommend that these comments be read in
order to put the student photographs into their correct context. One must keep in mind that these are intended
to be emotional pieces that convey a story visually, not just “pictures” of
people or things. But this is Snarky Art so I chose to see them also as
independent works of “art” because this is a show rich in happenstance and the
merits of just good old fashioned fundamentals.

As with any show, there are gems to be found and I will
touch upon a few as we progress. Since space (and your attention) are limited,
not everyone will get mentioned but all the works were deserving of comment. Several
pieces already had red dots on the tags and my visit was the day after the
opening!

Working around the room from the statement and going counterclockwise
(because I know you print these blogs out and take them with you to follow
along…right?) Brook Morgan (Jr) presents “Avery”, a study in crisp contrasts of
black and white (on several levels) that captures a moment in time. Inspired by
Sally Manns, Ms. Morgan’s subject does not look at the viewer but rather pulls
us out of frame to wonder what caused the reaction we see on the child’s face. The
child’s emotion is contagious.

Ronnie Stokes (Jr) whose piece is entitled “Zac Carter” is
more than a journalistic project, it is also a study in the layering of
triangles, whether intentional or not. Three bright “stars” of light forming
the first such triangle are the teeth, the earring and the logo on his hat. If
one continues to look for smaller and smaller triangles they are easily found.
It is this underlying fundamental element (shape) of composition that elevates
this piece and gives it bones.

Kaci Bucklew also has a basic element of art (space) which
creates a layer of interest most likely unintended, hence the role of
happenstance. The figure in “Matthew Lenz” is holding a longboard, the intended
subject of the image, but the placement of the figure to the right leaving an
empty space on the left, his eyes looking left, and a horizontal tree branch in
the background located almost at eye level, all pull the viewer out of frame to
wonder what is happening elsewhere. What is the rest of the story? Perhaps
other skaters? I believe the board was to be having it’s portrait taken, but
the figure holding it in place is far more intriguing.

Tyler Dowd (Jr) has a well written narrative of how he
captured his graffiti image which leaves the viewer wanting more of the story
when paired with the picture. “Hole in
the Wall” is just the beginning of an interesting journey on the part of the
photographer. Whose work did he capture? How did it get there? Why was it done?
All these questions are left unanswered…….the picture made me want to search
for clues.

Dallas Makowski (Sr) was inspired by Neil Leifer’s image of
bowling. Mr. Makowski’s “New School” appears to be a well thought out response
to the formal elements of his chosen reference photo but to capture the moment
in time of a bowling ball midway between the release and the lone pin at the
end of an alley, is not something planned. Perhaps luck played a big role in
how this study in contrasts works so effectively, but it does, and
photojournalism is sometimes just all about being in the right place at the
right time and pushing the shutter button.

Jamie Woodburn (Jr) had that same good karma with her the
day she set out to capture sunlight. Inspired by Eliot Porter, one of the first
photojournalists to work exclusively in color, her image “Sunlit Forest”
reveals more than was perhaps intended. A strong visual piece as it is
presented, look a bit more closely and one will see that she was not alone in
the woods. Directly below the burst of sun (something that happened suddenly on
a cloudy day according to her narrative), two trees form a cross (X marks the spot?)
and within the negative space formed by those trees, a “face” can be seen in the
shapes and patterns. I found more faces than the one which is most obvious.
Yes, the intent was to capture light, but the almost holy intensity of the
sunburst itself also gave us life in the forest.

Finally, I want to acknowledge the work of Alejandro Meza
(Soph) and his piece “Never Ending Pathway”. As an artist, I was drawn to his
overwhelmingly strong use of line as pattern in this image that depicts a man
walking in a snowstorm on the edge of the woods. The blurred trees are
vertical, the seams of his jacket are horizontal but he is vertical figure as
well, and the wind driven snow is diagonal. Add the elements of texture and
space and this work is dead on to his source of inspiration, the work of
William Eugene Smith whose figure is in a circular composition.

There is more to see in this small but very strong show at
the Museum. Good job to all these students who put their work on public display
and I encourage the viewers to purchase a rising star or two as the prices are extremely
reasonable and well worth your investment in their future.

Sunday, April 3, 2016

This past April First Friday was our best yet! Thanks to all
the PR from Dan Kane and the Rep, we had people coming in just to see the store
and participate in our project, many who had never ventured to the west coast
before. Hopefully we can keep that
energy flowing. Letter Press Jess and Canton Clothing open officially next
month so our little corner will be the place the BE! Maybe the new tree wraps helped bring good
karma as the olds one had faded. Our birds were certainly a happy flock (and Booger
the squirrel even got into the new feeders like his own personal seed
scooper). The sunflowers are starting to
poke thru the grates (or were until the snow came), but spring is here and so
are new creations from our studios.

Our Community Participation Project was “We are of one cloth”,
which asked visitors to decorate a 5” square of fabric that I will sew into a
wall hanging/quilt. Now people…… do I
really have to spell out exactly what is expected? I can’t count the number of
people that read my sign asking for participation in a “community quilt’ and
they thought I was expecting them to sew.
Once that fear passed, most were willing give it a try. Stamps and pads
were provided (giving a little head start on design options) plus markers and
crayons. The results are incredible and not one inappropriate or censor worthy
one in the bunch. However….your work stations were left in a horrendous mess
this time. Missing caps, lost stamp pad lids, stamps all over the place…..hmmm…..no
candy dish for you next time!

Our “Question of the Month” was “All past and present candidates excluded, who do you think would make
a good president?” 69 people offered
up some interesting choices. Here are
you answers: (oh, forgive me if I don’t know who your person is or if I spelled
it correctly …or if you didn’t)

Notice that there are NO professional athletes in this
group? For a football town, I am very surprised
that no one would hand over the nuclear football to someone who knows how to
carry one.

Next month will be open studio supplies and a clothes pin
show as I will be on an excused absence from the office. Extra security is
being brought in and lots more new fashions will be on our racks. The Community
Quilt will be done so come see your work on display. Much love to all who come
out and play every month and leave you mark.

PS – Mother’s Day is coming so shop early for a one of kind
gift (or gift certificate if you don’t know someone’s size and taste) Plus Flag
Day, Fourth of July, Birthdays, Showers, Weddings etc…!!! Don’t buy another bouquet of flowers or an
engraved dust bunny breeder…..think outside the box and come into the Studios.

About Me

I have been a working artist for over 35 years. My paintings have been included in shows all across the United States as well as in solo exhibitions. Visit my gallery site (www.judikrew.com) for more information and a look at some of my acrylic paintings, pastel drawings and hoard couture dresses. I have a BFA in Painting and Drawing from the University of Akron Honors Program and an MA in Art Education from Case Western Reserve University.